Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Keeping LTE after 3 months?

I’ve answered maybe four calls on my watch (three of them while my phone was at the Apple Store getting a new battery) but I’ll be keeping the cellular contract going once the six months is up. It’s worth a fiver a month to have it in case of emergencies.

Yes, I almost never go anywhere without my phone but the point of it for me was to not have to go back home if I forget my phone and to still get calls when my phone battery dies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Srbell67
roncron said:
The LTE service is advertised as $10/month.

But are there additional taxes and fees? Yes How much? It varies by location, range $2-5 based on local taxes

Is there an activation fee? Yes How much? $25-30 based on carrier selected in USA (see below for details)

If you don't renew the service but want to start it up again later, do you have to pay the activation fee again? Yes

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Initial answers in bold above. Most Carriers offer a trial period of free Activation or a Credit and 3 free months or credit for 3 months of service. The big tripping point is that the watch LTE plan is only offered on post-paid accounts.

Note: In UK, EE is offering 6 months free trial and then $5 per month.

Dave
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: roncron
roncron said:
The LTE service is advertised as $10/month.

But are there additional taxes and fees? How much?

Is there an activation fee? How much?

If you don't renew the service but want to start it up again later, do you have to pay the activation fee again?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It basically comes to about $15 in NY with the taxes and bs fees, 911 service fee. I agree with someone who said it should be $5.00 flat, not taxes or fees. I mean come on, just another money grab from these super rich cellular companies.

I am on a FAN Account with AT&T, and I do not have to pay activation fees. I do believe there was an activation fee for people with "normal" accounts.

It is $25.00 to start it up again if you turn it off. Another bs money grab.

You are welcome.

:apple:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Javabird and roncron
A vodka and soda in my neighborhood is roughly $11 plus tip.

For $10/mo plus some taxes, I’ll keep the LTE on on my SBSS AW3.

How pissed would any of you be if you ultimately turned off the LTE and then at some point, you’re somewhere where you really need it??
 
$12-$15/month (with taxes/fees in US) is a great feature to have at your disposal if the money is not an issue. For me, I can’t justify $144/year (on the low end) for something I don’t use regularly.

I haven’t tested it, but I’d be really curious to know, if an WATCH Cellular can make an emergency phone call the same way a deactivated cell phone can. If I’m out on a run (and I never take my iPhone when I do) and need 911, that would be the only scenario I could imagine needing cellular on the watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roncron
justiny said:
$12-$15/month (with taxes/fees in US) is a great feature to have at your disposal if the money is not an issue. For me, I can’t justify $144/year (on the low end) for something I don’t use regularly.

I haven’t tested it, but I’d be really curious to know, if an WATCH Cellular can make an emergency phone call the same way a deactivated cell phone can. If I’m out on a run (and I never take my iPhone when I do) and need 911, that would be the only scenario I could imagine needing cellular on the watch.
Click to expand...

Not 100% sure, but I believe you can still make a 911 call using SOS on an deactivated AW. Someone here with a deactivated one can chime in and let us know if you can do it. I swore I read an article about it being like a deactivated cell phone.

:apple:
 
I did not activate LTE and I accidentally made a SOS call. My phone was nearby though. not sure if it would work if I only had the watch and don’t think it ethical to try . But I guess you can see if that feature comes up when you are not in range of the watch?
 
justiny said:
$12-$15/month (with taxes/fees in US) is a great feature to have at your disposal if the money is not an issue. For me, I can’t justify $144/year (on the low end) for something I don’t use regularly.

I haven’t tested it, but I’d be really curious to know, if an WATCH Cellular can make an emergency phone call the same way a deactivated cell phone can. If I’m out on a run (and I never take my iPhone when I do) and need 911, that would be the only scenario I could imagine needing cellular on the watch.
Click to expand...

I found this, and there were a lot of articles on Reddit and what not saying that the Apple Watch Series 3 GPS+LTE can make 911 phone calls even if it has never been activated in the first place, or if it was deactivated. So yeah if you cancel, you can still go for a run or what not and not have to worry about bringing your phone and not worry about being able to reach 911.

This is one tiny blurb from an article I found:

This is a good, logical, tangible reason to consider getting an LTE Apple Watch even if you don't plan on adding it to your cell plan. It can be used to call 911 in emergencies.

Edit: I should also point out that after the call is ended, it gives you a countdown to cancel sending your location to your emergency contacts. I imagine that will not work without a data plan.

:apple:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Javabird, justiny and roncron
I have a work phone I have to carry and I need certain people to contact me on my personal number, this is a way for me to carry both phone without actually carrying both, I love the LTE.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vista.john and dave006
i might imac said:
I have a work phone I have to carry and I need certain people to contact me on my personal number, this is a way for me to carry both phone without actually carrying both, I love the LTE.
Click to expand...

Do you use AirPods with them? The speaker is pretty good if you are in your house and its pretty quite, however, if you are out somewhere it is hard to hear them, though they can hear you fine (in my experience they cannot even tell I am on my AW) so I use my AirPods when in public, 1. So I can hear the person I am talking to, and 2. So I do not look like a weirdo holding up my AW to my ear and then talking into it. I will only do that if it is a super quick call...asking something like a yes/no question. Glad you enjoy your Series 3 LTE Apple Watch!

:apple:
 
I checked my data usage for my watch on my Verizon account and it says I used zero LTE data over the three free months I got with signup. Somehow I don't think it's worth the extra $10/month since I'm apparently never using the feature.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5pctoff and AnthroMatt
I’m at 593MB for my current period - most I’m sure from downloading those podcasts on the go! :)
 
SRLMJ23 said:
Do you use AirPods with them? The speaker is pretty good if you are in your house and its pretty quite, however, if you are out somewhere it is hard to hear them, though they can hear you fine (in my experience they cannot even tell I am on my AW) so I use my AirPods when in public, 1. So I can hear the person I am talking to, and 2. So I do not look like a weirdo holding up my AW to my ear and then talking into it. I will only do that if it is a super quick call...asking something like a yes/no question. Glad you enjoy your Series 3 LTE Apple Watch!

:apple:
Click to expand...
No I don't own air pods....YET
 
i might imac said:
No I don't own air pods....YET
Click to expand...

Well I highly recommend the AirPods, because among all of the Apple Products there are, I do not think two go together like the Apple Watch and AirPods. Especially a S3+LTE so you can stream the entire iTunes catalog with Apple Music! I hope you are able to get a pair soon, good luck!

:apple:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: justiny
big samm said:
Which app do you use to get podcasts straight on the AW with no phone involved?
Click to expand...
WatchPlayer is the one to get - once installed the entire app is self sufficient - you can search to add new podcasts to your list and download new episodes over WiFi or LTE, the developer found a way to make the download process fast too!

Just make sure when downloading to not be connected to your iPhone otherwise the OS forces it to download to the phone first and then transfer via Bluetooth, so just make sure to be disconnected to your phone when doing the downloads. Great app that gets fairly frequent updates with new features.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/watch-player/id1170672458?mt=8&uo=4&at=1000lxWo
 
Nell said:
I’ve answered maybe four calls on my watch (three of them while my phone was at the Apple Store getting a new battery) but I’ll be keeping the cellular contract going once the six months is up. It’s worth a fiver a month to have it in case of emergencies.

Yes, I almost never go anywhere without my phone but the point of it for me was to not have to go back home if I forget my phone and to still get calls when my phone battery dies.
Click to expand...

I just want to make sure you realize it is not $5.00/month, it is $10.00/month PLUS taxes, which in New York makes it a tad bit over $15.00/month.

Many of us have said that if it was a flat $5.00/month, it would be the perfect price and most all of us would keep it.

:apple:
 
SRLMJ23 said:
I just want to make sure you realize it is not $5.00/month, it is $10.00/month PLUS taxes, which in New York makes it a tad bit over $15.00/month.

Many of us have said that if it was a flat $5.00/month, it would be the perfect price and most all of us would keep it.

:apple:
Click to expand...
T-Mobile is the way to go for those that want the taxes bundled into the $10 price tag, for T-Mobile customers $10 means $10, which is really nice.
 
musicpenguy said:
T-Mobile is the way to go for those that want the taxes bundled into the $10 price tag, for T-Mobile customers $10 means $10, which is really nice.
Click to expand...

Yeah that is nice for you guys on T-Mobile, however, I was just pointing out that on ALL the carriers it is $10.00, not $5.00 like that person thought...unless he just mistyped.

:apple:
 
SRLMJ23 said:
I just want to make sure you realize it is not $5.00/month, it is $10.00/month PLUS taxes, which in New York makes it a tad bit over $15.00/month.

Many of us have said that if it was a flat $5.00/month, it would be the perfect price and most all of us would keep it.

:apple:
Click to expand...

I’m in London. Here it’s a fiver a month (or it will be once the six month trial period is up).
 
I’m keeping mine in some instances I just don’t want to carry my phone for instance at the Park, in the mall, hospitals etc.. and some gyms don’t offer WiFi that connects to Apple Watch so that means I’ll have to carry my phone and I hate working out with my phone
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back